30 Aug
2010

You may think that in order to get ahead in your career and earn more income, you need to go back to school, take time off work, and take out student loans. This is not the case. There are many ways to get ahead in your career without a huge expense:

1) Look around for free mentorship programs. There are many free mentorship programs available as well as internships and volunteer programs that help you learn new skills. Contact your employer, chamber of commerce, or professional association.

2) Find out what career training is tax-deductible. Talk to your accountant. You may find that some training seminars, courses, and schooling are in fact tax deductible and you can take as many of these as you like and still get your investment back during tax season.

3) Find out what training your company offers. Your company wants the best employees possible, and that means that they are often willing to encourage more training and skills-building. Some companies offer scholarships or financial help to employees while others offer training and courses for employees.

4) Read up about your career at the library. Reading the latest industry journals and publications can be a great way to learn more about your field without investing a penny.

30 Aug
2010

This is a time of year when many people set new goals. If you have set new goals to stay in shape, you may wonder how you will afford it. Diet programs cost hundreds of dollars, as do exercise equipment and exercise machines. Joining the gym can also be very expensive, but there are ways to save money while getting into shape:

1) Forget the fancy equipment and clothes. You don’t need special clothes and equipment to stay in shape. In fact, most people who invest in specialized equipment never use it. Instead, use what you have now. You can even use soup cans as weights. Use free online workout exercise videos and household items to stay in shape. You really don’t need much – just comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes.

2) Forget the fancy gym membership. Gyms cost a lot of money, but you don’t need them. Join a walking group or hiking group in your community if you need motivation to get started. And don’t forget that you can go it yourself just by being determined.

3) Simplify your meals. Keeping meals simple – with less convenience foods – is much less expensive and also much better for you.

30 Aug
2010

It sometimes seems like you need a lot of money in order to meet your financial goals. For example, one of your financial goals might be to pay off your personal debts and payday loans. To do so, you will need a lot of money up front in cash to repay everything at once. If your goal is to invest money, you also need some savings to start investing. However, you don’t have to live on lettuce leaves or spend all your savings to get ahead. Instead:

1) Start small. Rather than trying to repay all your loans at once or get a huge buffer account set up, start gradually. Maybe you can put $5 a day or even $2 a day towards your financial goals. Do so. Every little bit counts.

2) Use free resources. There are many free resources to help you. Check out our free budget worksheet, for example, to track monthly expenses and to get a grip on your spending. Check out your library for free books about money management and free seminars about money. Also, see what resources your bank can offer. Some offer low-fee savings accounts and other services that can help you get ahead.

3) Be consistent and gradual. Do a little every day and every month for months and you’ll get much further than trying to do something larger every once in a while.

29 Aug
2010

Market research companies help businesses learn more about their customers and their success rate. Businesses hire market research companies to determine how well a product is liked and what changes need to be made to a product in order for it to succeed. Obviously, market research companies need to find plenty of customers to get feedback about products, companies, services, and brands.

Signing up with a market research company to help is not only helping the company – it is also profitable for you. Market companies gather information in several ways, and they will often pay participants in order to help. For example, these companies may offer:

1) Secret shopping. In this type of situation, you get to shop (on the company’s dollar) in order to evaluate the company’s services and products. Or, you may get to dine at a restaurant for free. Afterwards, you fill out a survey explaining how well the company does.

2) Focus groups. In a focus group, you get to offer your opinion about a product or service you have used or have been given to try. You are usually paid a flat fee for your time.

3) Review services. You may be asked to review a product or service you are given for free.

4) Paid surveys. In this type of situation, you are asked to fill out surveys about a variety of subjects and you get some money for each survey completed.

You can make a nice side income by working with marketing research companies in your spare time. Contact companies in your area for details. Just make sure that you don’t pay to take part; no legitimate market research company asks you to pay for your help.

29 Aug
2010

Fall is a great time to enjoy some inexpensive fun. You can save money by taking advantage of these fall favorites:

1) Fall fairs. Fall fairs and farmer’s markets are often a great way to get produce and fresh food for very little while also having lots of fun. A fair can be a great weekend of fun that’s very gentle on your wallet.

2) Fall drives. A drive into the country to look at fall leaves is thrifty fun. Just load up the car and go. You can even gather fallen leaves for colorful craft projects at home.

3) Board game nights. When the weather gets cooler, staying in with hot chocolate and board games can be a fun way to save money while still having fun and still spending time together.

4) Off-season travel. Some families wait until the very end of summer and early fall to travel. Many places are still warm and beautiful, but since the weather is cooling down, the tourists are leaving. That means less crowding and more savings for you. Plus, if you travel with kids, missing the first few days of school is often less of a problem than missing days in the middle of the term.

29 Aug
2010

If this summer wasn’t all you hoped it was, you can have a much better time next year. Start by imagining your perfect summer. Where would you go? What would you see? Write down every detail of your perfect summer. Next, do the research. Find out exactly how much your vacation might cost. Many people say they would like to stay in a villa in Italy, for example, but never bother to find out how much it will cost. Take the time to find out the total costs.

The next step of your summer budget is to determine whether you could save money on your trip. For example, if you want to travel to Paris and stay in a luxury hotel, you may find that the price really is too high. If so, consider ways of making your stay more affordable. Could you travel with a friend and split the costs? Could you travel as part of a package deal to save money? What if you stayed at a dorm room in one of Paris’s oldest colleges? Read up about your vacation to find ways to save. Consider traveling out of the busiest tourist season, too. Then, create a revised budget based on your new costs.

Next, start putting your plan into action. Divide your total travel costs by 10 to find out how much you will need to save in order to have your dream trip next year. Commit to putting aside that money each month. Work with a monthly budget to make sure it gets done. In your calendar, note down when you need to book your tickets, accommodations, and all the details of your trip.

28 Aug
2010

Many people associate yard sales with the dog days of summer, but there are a few great reasons why throwing a yard sale in the fall is an even better idea. If you live in a college town, for example, students are probably arriving in your town right now in droves. Many need furniture and accessories to make their dorm rooms more livable, so if you have some furniture you would be willing to sell at reasonable prices, you will likely have some interested buyers. Students are also often on the lookout for books, DVDs, games, and small appliances.

As many younger students head back to school, parents are also on the lookout for ways to save on the back-to-school season. Children’s clothes and desks for kids tend to sell well right now, as do any educational books and materials. If you have these sorts of items, you can sell them at a good price and maybe pay off that credit card or bill this month with the profits.

28 Aug
2010

Do you love free stuff? There is such a thing as a free lunch (and a free sample, and a free service…), if you know where to look:

1) Media companies – including newspapers and radio stations. Newspapers and radio stations get freebies (such as free movie passes and free CDs) from marketers. They often pass these items on to listeners and readers. Listen to radio stations to call in for freebies and read your newspaper to find out about contests and free offers. Your newspaper is also a great way to find out about upcoming free events. Check the classifieds, too, to find out about freebies.

2) Big events. Anywhere crowds go, marketers go – and they tend to bring freebies and samples.

3) Online. You can easily find freebies, barter sites, and even companies offering free products online. All you need is Google to find the latest offers.

4) Your library. Your library allows you to access an unlimited number of books, CDs, music items, audio books, movies, and magazines for free. Your library also usually offers free workshops and seminars that can teach you everything from using your computer to starting your own business. Also, check the book stacks for books about freebies – your library likely has a few directories of companies where you can send away for freebies.

5) Credit unions. Don’t forget to get a free credit report through your local credit union.

28 Aug
2010

Is there anything better than getting stuff for free? Free stuff can save you lots of money and can really save your budget. It can also be pretty fun to get something for nothing. In fact, there are many ways to save with freebies:

1) Free seminars and lectures. Want to learn how to do something? You don’t have to pay for an expensive class. Stores offer free seminars all the time. Banks often have free money or mortgage workshops. Your library is also a great resource for free classes.

2) Free legal and money help. Legal aid can often help you with legal queries. Many banks offer free financial services – such as a look at your money management or free money advice.

3) Free furniture and household goods. There are many online sites dedicated to bartering or swapping that allow you to get just about anything for free – from a new table to an entire house! Plus, many people give stuff away for free all the time. Check your local online classified site for their “freebie” section.

4) Free services. Free services can include everything from getting your home painted to getting a free manicure. Companies and services often give away free services as part of promotions.

5) Free refreshments and samples. At big events, companies often give away samples and food to promote their business. As well, many marketing companies use freebies to attract new customers.

27 Aug
2010

If you want to save big bucks next summer, there are lots of ways to save now. Most stores have heavily discounted summer products, including camping gear, outdoor patio furniture, barbeques and accessories, and fans. If you want to buy a big-ticket summer item (such as an air conditioner) you’ll often find the best deals on right now. The selection of summer products is more modest at stores right now, but you may find great bargains. Also, summer items may now be arriving at your favorite discount and factory outlet stores. Now is the time to stock up on summer clothes and fun summer accessories for next year.

Another great source of savings is summer travelers. Cottagers are closing up their cottages for the summer and some are even selling their cottages. This is a great time to buy a summer home, since most people are not thinking of the summer right now. It can also be a great time to buy a boat, since some boaters may prefer the extra cash to the cost of storing their boat – which gives you some leverage when negotiating price. Cottagers may also be selling off the contents of their summer homes now, making it a great time to bargain hunt. If you can pay cash (avoid using payday loans or personal loans to pay for summer toys) you can have a great summer for less next year.